Roof structure



April 12, 1966 D. MAY

ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 20, 1963 INVENTOR.

DAVID MAY AT TOR NEY United States Patent 3,245,187 ROO TRU T R David May, 1308 W. Haywood Drive, Brea, Calif. Filed Sept. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 310,439 7 cla ms 527-418).

The present invention relates generally to roofing structures, and more particularly to novel preformed panels that may be used in the fabrication thereof.

In the building industry many types of shingles and roofing panels have been devised and used in the past, but they have been of such a nature that a high degree o f skill is required to install them, and the shingles and panels themselves are relatively costly, even prior to application thereof.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a roofing panel structure that is particularly adapted for fabrication from sheet material or a polymerized resin, is of an extremely simple design, requires a minimum of skill to install very quickly, and one in which the fastening means used in securing the panels in place on the rafters are fully protected from the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roof structure which presents a unique and ornamental appearance. A still further object of the invention is to furnish roofing panels of such structure that they may be so fabricated as to cover roofs of any desired length and width.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred and certain alternate forms thereof, and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective View ofa roof on which the preferred form of roofing panel has been installed;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred form of roofing panel mounted in a fixed position on the rafters of a building;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a first alternate form of roofing panelj FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second alternate form of roofing panel;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the third alternate form of roofing panel; and

FIGURE 6 'is a transverse cross-sectional view of the preferred form of roofing panel, taken on the line. 6 6 of FIGURE 2. I

With continuing reference to the drawing for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2 that the preferred form thereof includes a number of first rectangular panels A which span alternate pairs of rafters B. One of the pairs of rafters B is shown in FIGURE 2. The preferred form of roof structure also includes a number of second rectangular panels .C that span the spaces D between the alternate pairs of rafters B.

Each panel A has two inverted channel-shaped members E that extend upwardly from the longitudinal edges thereof, as well as a first wall 19 which projects upwardly from a longitudinal edge of panel A" to develop into a horizontal web 12 that is parallel to the panel, and from which web a second wall 14 depends. The width ,of the. web 12 is such that the first and second, walls and 14 are disposed adjacent to vertical longitudinal sides 16 and 18 respectively, of one of the rafters B.

The panel A and two members E are preferably formed 7 Each of the panels C, which may be formed from the same material as panel A, has two transversely spaced ribs 20 formed thereon that depend from each of the longitudinal side portions thereof. The ribs 20, as may best be seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, are so spaced as to slidably engage the exterior surfaces of the walls 10 and 12. When the first panel A and second panel C are arranged in the configuration shown in FIGURES l and 2, they are rigidly affixed to the rafters B by a number of nails 22 (FIGURE 6).

The nails 22 are driven through one of the ribs 20, the wall 14 adjacent thereto, and into the rafters B to rigidly afiix both the first panel A and second panel C to the rafters B in a roof-defining position, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The nails 22 are not so long that they will project through one of the rafters B and the wall 10 and rib 20 to the opposite side thereof. Consequently, no openings are formed in panels A or C in positions where rain or moisture can pass therethrough whereby a weather-tight roof structure is provided.

The panels A and C can be fabricated in lengths sufficient to constitute sections of a whole roof, or they can be cut in shorter sections which are more convenient to handle. The upper panels A and C overlap the lower panels A and C, as may best be seen in FIGURE 1, and when so arranged provide a water-tight roof structure.

A first alternate form of a roofing panel A is shown in FIGURE 3. This form of the invention includes a number of rectangular panels F, each of which are sulficiently wide as to at least span the distance between two adjacently disposed rafters B. An inverted channelshaped member G extends along one longitudinal side of each panel F, and the interior cross section of this member is such that it slidably and snugly engages at least the upper portion of one of the rafters B.

Two longitudinally extending, transversely spaced ribs 24- depend from the opposite side of panel F, which ribs, together with a portion 26 of the panel directly thereabove, cooperatively provided an inverted channelshaped portion H. Portion H (FIGURE 3) slidably engages a member G forming a part of the panel F adjacent to panel F. Panels F and F are of identical structure, and are rigidly affixed to the rafters B by nails 23 which are driven through the ribs 24, 24'', members G, G, and into the rafters. The nails 28 are of such length that they extend only partially through the rafters B whereby they are at all times disposed in a position protected from the rain and weather. Furthermore, no openings are formed in the panels F and F in positions where water can pass through the roof structure.

A second alternate form of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4 which includes a rectangular panel I of sufficient width to at least span the distance between two adjacently disposed rafters B. The panel I, as can best be seen in FIGURE 4, develops into a doubled over, downwardly projecting flange 30 which supports a longitudinally corrugated engaging portion 32 that extends over the upper surface of one of the rafters B,

The right-hand side portion of panel Idevelops into a longitudinally extending, corrugated engageable portion 34 which is engaged by the engaging portion 32' on panel I situated to the right of panelI (FIGURE 4). Papels J and I are of identical construction, but a prime has been added to the second panel solely for the purpose of distinguishing. it from the first. A downwardly extending flange 30' is provided on panel I which abuts against the rafter B situated to the right.

The engaging portion 32 and engageable portion 34 are corrugated to permit lateral adjustment to be made between the panels I and I, which is occasionally necessary if the rafters B are not in accurately spaced relationship. Panels I and I are rigidly held in position on the rafters B by nails 36 that extend through the flanges and 30' to engage the rafters B. Nails 36 (FIGURE 4) are disposed underthe .panels I and J, and are fully protected from the weather.

A third alternate form of the invention is shown in FIGURE 5 which must be used with adjacently disposed rafters B having a crosspiece K extending therebetween. This form of the invention includes a rectangular panel L that extends between two adjacent rafters B, and the left-hand side of this panel develops into an upwardly projecting, longitudinally extending member 38. The right-hand side of panel L develops into a longitudinally extending portion of inverted V-shaped configuration which engages one of the members 38' on the panel L' to the right of panel L, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The panels L and L are of identical structure, but for the sake of convenience the panel partially shown in FIGURE 5 has been identified by the letter L.

A transverse tab 42 depends from the under side of panel L, which tab is in abutting contact with the crosspiece K. Panel L is held in a fixed position on the rafters B by nails 44 that are driven through the tab 42 to engage the crosspiece K. The nails 44 are fully protected from weather and the elements due to the fact that the tab 42 and crosspiece K are situated under panel L. The panel L, as well as other panels of a like nature that define a roof structure as shown in FIGURE 5, are provided with tabs (not shown) of the same structure as tab 42 which are nailed to crosspiece K (not shown) in the same manner as described in connection with panel L. The use and operation of the preferred and alternate forms of the invention have been described herein and need not be repeated.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rafter supported structure, in combination with spaced rafters, including:

(a) a plurality of first rectangular panels spanning alternate pairs of said rafters;

(b) a plurality of second rectangular panels spanning the spaces between said alternate pairs of said rafters;

(c) inverted channel-shaped members on longitudinal sides of each of said first panels, which members removably engage, with the interior surfaces thereof being adjacent the tops and sides of said rafters in one or" said alternate pairs thereof;

(d) pairs of ribs on the longitudinal sides of each of said second panels engaging two adjacently disposed of said channel shaped members of said first panels, with said pairs of ribs extending at least partially over vertical side surfaces of said channel shaped members; and

(e) a plurality of nails disposed under said first and second panels for protection from the weather extending at least partially through said rafters and through vertical side surfaces of said channel shaped members and ribs thereby holding said first and second panels in fixed positions on said rafters.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said first panels and said pairs of inverted channelshaped members define an integral preformed unit.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each 4 of said second panels and ribs is an integral preformed unit.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said first panel and each of said channel-shaped members is formed from a polymerized resin.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said second panels and said pairs of ribs are formed from a polymerized resin.

6. A rafter-supported structure, in combination with spaced rafters, including:

(a) a plurality of rectangular panels, each of which has a first longitudinal edge of inverted channelshaped cross section that extends downwardly therefrom and a second longitudinal edge of inverted channel-shaped cross section situated above the balance of said panel, each of which second edges engages the top and extends downwardly over the sides of one of said rafters, with each of said first edges engaging and extending downwardly over one of said second edges of an adjacent panel that is supported on one of said rafters; and

(b) a plurality of nails located under said panels for protection from the weather extending at least partially through the sides of said rafters and engaging at least portions of said first and second edges holding said panels in fixed positions on said rafters.

7. A rafter-supported structure, in combination with spaced rafters, including:

(a) a plurality of rectangular panels, each of which has a first corrugated longitudinal edge, a second corrugated longitudinal edge, and a longitudinal flange extending downwardly from said panel inwardly from said first edge, which first 'and second edges are disposed over adjacent rafters, with said second edge of one of said panels engaging and interlocking with the first edge of that one of said panels adjacent thereto, and each of which flanges is disposed adjacent a vertical side of one of said rafters; and

(b) a plurality of nails disposed under said panels for protection from the weather extending through said flanges and at least partially through the vertical sides of said rafters thereby holding said panels in fixed positions on said rafters.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,297 8/ 1874 Taylor 52-474 186,021 1/1877 Shepard 52-461 302,113 7/1884 Dellmon 52-462 422,319 2/ 1890 Sagendroph 52-521 618,516 1/1899 Mover 52-472 1,076,065 10/1913 Roth 52-472 1,179,523 4/1916 Hammond 52-521 1,210,855 1/1917 Shainwald 52-536 2,163,381 6/1939 Marsan 52-483 2,308,442 1/ 1943 Diggs 52-549 2,378,567 6/1945 McCloskey 52-520 3,114,218 12/1963 Macquere 52-222 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,198 9/ 1907 Germany.

18,541 8/ 1909 Great Britain. 565,883 12/ 1944 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiners. 

